Machine for cutting strips from continuous material, such as webbing, ribbon, or the like



Aug. 15, 1950 2,519,201 SUCH R. L. SEIDMAN TRI AS WEBBING, RIBBON, OR THE LIKE Filed June 7, 1949 2 Sheets$heet 1 9 w 3 9 w I l 3 89 W O 2 52 I 4 A 1 O T T 9 4 2 3 9 u. M H w 5 m LN H N m [H 2 H H Hm m H .d M Wm 2 7 5 W a I ll 9 H 2 l m H5 7 4 H 5 J/ A H m \L| H v MW 3 M H 5 6 H r 3 3 I? 3 w I 2 2 E J FIG.

INVENTOR RICHARD L. SEIDMAN mm a? FIG. 2

Aug. 15, 1950 R. LQSEIDMAN 2,519

MA CHINE FQR CUTTING STRIPS FROM CONTINUOUS MATERIAL, SUCH AS WEBBING, RIBBON, OR THE LIKE Filed June '7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E I E E 1 E I6 f 48 30 I29 12a FIG. 3

INVENTOR RICHARD L. SElDMAN Patented Aug. 1 5 1956 TINUOUS MATERIAL RIBBON, OR THE LI SUCH AS WEBBING,

Richard L. Seidman, Norwalk, Conn. Application June 7, 1949, Serial No. 97,536

2-0 Claims; (Cl. 164 68) My; invention relates tocutting machines, and more particularly has reference to a machine for cutting strips from continuous material, especially material inthe form of continuous webbing, ribbon, or the like.

object of the inventio'njis the provision of means for cutting strips from continuous ma--' terial with a machine which has a rotatable knife member adapted to be actuated for severing the material in accordance with the thickness of the material advanced to the knife memher by mechanism which; comprises means for advancing the material lengthwise of itself to the knife member, a drive shaft adapted to be intermittently coupled to the knife member by clutch means whichare actuated by a lever systemin accordance with the thickness of the materi'al'fed to the knife member and which, in conjunction with gear means and a friction drive, effect the operation of the knife member for severing the material.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision; ina machine of the character described, of clutch means comprising a driving member and a driven member, gear means comprisinghelical and spur gears which, in conjunction with a, friction drive and said clutch means, intermittently effect the actuation of cutter means, a'lever system for engaging the clutch meansand'cam means for disengaging it, as,

means for l arresting actuation of the cutter means, and gearing, other than said gear means and designed tolpermit the use ofsimple and 1 readily adjustable cutter mechanism, adapted to operate said cutter means through said clutch, friction drive and gear means,

These. and other objects of the invention will in :part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter;

:The invention accordingly comprises the article possessing the features, properties and the relation, of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope I of the application ofwhich will beindicated in the claims' For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had' to the following detailed description taken in "connection with the accompanying drawings wheree tion;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with parts, broken away and parts in section;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my cutting ma chine with parts broken away and parts in sec- Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine With parts broken awayand parts in section; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed partial elevation showing;

stop mechanism employed with the machine.

Certain industrial operations require that con-,- tinuous material of the character having thick portions at spaced apart intervals, extending. lengthwise of the material, be cut or severed transversely at predetermined locations.

For example, in making certain womens garments, such as slips, it is customary to form the shoulder straps of scrap material remaining from the cloth from which the panels of the slip are cut. This scrap is trimmed to width and cut into, sections, of from four to twenty-four inches in length. These sections are sewn together, end to end, to provide continuous material. Folding and double-edge machine sewing operations complete the continuous material which is in the form of a ribbon, or web, or the like, but which has thick ,po'rtions where adjacent sections are. overlapped in joining relation. Individual straps are formedby putting the continuous material in back or in front of each thick portion, the. thick portions or humps at the end of each strap being utilized to retain a buckle on the strap.

Strap-cutting operations of the character described serve admirably for the purposev of illuse trat ns ,myinventionand the same, will be de; scrib edin connection therewith. V

Io; carry'the objects and aims ,of the invention into effect I make use of a machine com-.' prising a housing formed ofsi'de plates H, and

I2, end'plates M and I5, and atop plate 45,

' which are suitably secured together by conven- The machine is supported on the] rotation in conventional bushings or bearing sup- 7 ports in themanner disclosed in the drawings.

Shaft I 6 constitutesa drive shaft which is adapted to be cons'tantly rotated and is connected to a, power source, not shown. means, friction drive means and, gear shaft I? for operatively connecting these two shafts together whereby the shaft I1 is rotated at predetermined intervals, as will hereinafter Clutch 6 i ai fi. are associated with the drive shaft |6 and the be set forth. Likewise, as will presently appear, the shaft H, which is located intermediately of the shafts IE and I8, is connected through special gearing to shaft I9. Shaft I9 provides a part of cutter mechanism employed with the machine and has a knife member fixed thereto for rotation therewith. Shaft I8 constitutes a rock shaft with.v which is associated. a. lever. system for engaging the clutch means whereby to effect rotation of the knife member. The rock shaft I8 and the lever system also provide con-- trol means, dependent upon the thickness of the material advanced to the cutter means, forcon.- trolling the actuation of the clutch means.

The web-like material to be cut may be carried upon a suitable support, not shown,- and adapt: ed to be fed from left to right of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, through a guide 23* and between the peripheries of a feed roll 20; f xed to the drive shaft I6 and an idler roll 2I carried by arock. arm. or lever member 22 whichis fixed at one end. to. the rock shaft. I8.. Idler roll 2|. is fixed to a sleeve. 55' which is rotatably mounted on idler shaft. 25 by conventional means. Idler shaft 25 is fixedly securedto arm 22. A gear 24 is, also secured to. the. rotatable. sleeve. at. a position adjacent. the. inner face of side plate I2 and this, gear is adapted to cooperate with a similarv gear 28 on the main drive shaft I6 whereby the idler roll 2I is positively driven on rotation. of the drive shaft I6. This expedient avoids the p'o ssibilty of interruption. of the advancement of the, continuous material when a thick portion thereof reaches the feed roll. andidler roll and assures that the. two rolls cooperate with each other to force thisv thickened portion therebetween. Gravity constantly urges idler roll 2| towards feed roll 20 whereby there is. pressure engagement of the material therebetween.

When. the thick portion or hump in the material; to be cut is fed between. theidler roll 2I and thefeedroll 29, the idler roll. is elevated and this. causes the arm 22 to rock the shaft I8. Side plate I2 isv provided with a suitable. opening. therein. to. permit arcua-te movement, of the idler roll. upon movement of arm, 22. A second rock arm or, lever member 21., fixed adjacent one end tothe shaft. I8, is consequently moved when the. shaft I8 is rocked by the raising or lowering of arm 22 and the idler. roll. carried. by it. Arm 2'! is adapted to-operate clutch means for actuating cutter mechanism in a manner-to be presently described.

Clutchmeans employed with.v the machinecompriseclutch members 28. and 29, mounted on the drive shaft I6. Clutch. member 28- is fixed to the driveshaft and, is constantly rotated therewith. Clutch member 29 is loosely mounted on the drive shaft and isslidable axially thereof. The opposed.- faees. of clutch members. 28 and, 29. are provided, respectively, with suitable engaging members or teeth I28 and I29 which, upon engagement of the clutch by axialv movement of the member 29 into contact .with the-clutch member 28, are adapted to bebrought into mesh with each other whereby to cause clutch member 28 to drive clutch member. 29...

When: clutch member 29 is moved into contact withclutch. member 28, the teeth on one of the clutch. members. should, preferably, be aligned with the .spaces between the teeth on the other; member. to effect, the immediate engagement thereof for driving the clutch member 29. If, when the clutch. members are in contact, this; alignmentis lacking, there,- will be. a slight rotative movement of the clutch member 28 relative to the clutch member 29 to bring the teeth into meshing position whereupon driving engagement of the clutch members occurs. Slippage of the clutch means, for the reasons just noted, will affect the relative position or proximity of the cut with respect to the leading edge or the trailing. edge ofa thick. portion of the material being operated: upon by the machine. Variation in the position of the cut relative to an edge of a thick portion may be reduced to a negligible factor by the employment. of a. fine tooth arrangement for the. teeth I28 and 1:29; I have had considerable success using. a tooth construction for the clutch members of about fifty teeth per inch of the diameter and with such arrangement variation in the relative location of the cut is retricted to a distance approximating the spacing between clutch teeth.

The gear means associated with the machine comprise apair of spur gears 39. and 3i mounted, respectively, on shafts I6. and H, and a pair of. helical gears 32 .and,3.3. alsomounted, respective ly, on shafts I6. and. [12. Spur gear 30 issecured to the drive shaft I6 or to the fixed clutch member 28: and engages the. spur gear 3I which is fi igdto a suitable bushing III loosely mounted onthe intermediate shaft H and consequently rotatable. with. respect thereto. The helical gear.

3.21s loosely mountedeon the drive: shaft I6 and: is fixed to the movable clutch member 29 for axial. movement therewith. Helical gear 32 engagesthe helical gear 33, which is secured tothe-shaft H for rotation. therewith. Helical gear 32. is provided with a hub. 34. while; helical; gear 33' is pro-- vided with a huh35iwhich are used for a purpose tobe presently setfortha. Asmay benoted, one of the helical gears is. left handed and the other is. right.- handed.

A180, as may be-observed, the spur gear 3.I; isprovided with a hub I3I. The; friction: drive. means, heretofore mentioned, is. mounted within this hub for engagement with shaft I'I whereby" the spur gear'3I' may; be'connectedto this shaft. A bevelgear 3i}, fixed on theshaf-t H, is adapted. toengage a similar bevel; gear- 3,1? fixedo.n=.the cutter-shaft iii-for. the purposeof rotating thetcutter.

Itwill be apparent. from the foregoing: that. when. the; clutch members- 2-8 and; 29.-are engaged, helical: gear 32; will be rotated and will drive helical.

gear- 33 on the shaft 'I-I. Rotation: of the shaft.

I1 will in turnv driveztherbevelxgear: 3.6 and cause,

rotation of the. shaft: I9 throng-lithe bevel gear; 31. which is operatively engaged with: the bevel ear 36;

The cutter mechanismicomprisesxa discfixedcon the: cuttenshaft I9; and: a; knifemember 39: fixed to-the: disc: 3f};- Ehelmifie'memben 39%is adapted. to cooperate with a stationary cutter member or lade .llim'ounted on the. upper surface of a block I49: which is; secured toxthe side plate IZ-byanyconventional means. termember $0: is adjustably mounted on the block let in conventional manner for: movement into the path of rotation of the knife member 39 and is adapted to beqadjustedfor slight rubbing contact with theknifememberz39i. The cutting surface of the: cutter member; 4'9: isza straight edge adapted to. be positioned at right angles to the direction in which the material to be cut is advanced. The cutting; surfacev of the knife member 3 9 -is alsostraight. edged and, similarly, is-located at right angles to the flow of the material;

Cutter-member andablock: I88"- together form a work support over which themovingmaterial Asmay-be observed, cutpasses, the means for fastening the cutter member 40v to the work support being recessed in the cutter memberor appropriately located in positions where, they will not interfere with the flow of the material.

One practice for rigidly securing, knife member 39 to the disc 38 provides an appropriate hole through-the member adjacent one end thereof and mounts the knife member on shaft l9 which extends through the just-mentioned hole. Knife member 39 is retained on the shaft l9 by a nut H9 threaded on the end of the shaft. A second fastening means, comprising a bolt I38, adapted to extend through the disc 38 and through a slot I39 radially located in and extending through the knife member, permits the knife member 39 to be rigidly but adjustably secured to the disc 38. Knife member 39 is movable relative to disc 38 to suitably position it at. the desired adjustment for cutting the continuous material at a location adjacent the leading edge or adjacent the trailing edge of the thick portions of the material.

Other arrangementsmay be-used for connecting kn ife member 39 and disc 38 together. For example, a spring may be placed on shaft l9 between nut 1 i9 and the knife member39 to constantly urge the knife member into contact with the disc 38. Also, the adjustable mounting for the knife member 39 may be carried out through the use of a pin adapted to extend from the knife member 39 and to be engaged within one of a plurality of holes radially located and formed'in the disc 38 inplace of slot I39. When the knife member 39 is spring loaded, a function of the spring is to constantly urge the knife, member 39 to a position where it will make contact with the stationary cutter 40 mounted on the side plate l2. In this. instance the stationary cutter need not be adjustable but has only a portion of its cutting surface at a right angle to the flow direc-p tion of the material, and the remainder of said surface slightly inclined to the flow direction and away from the cutting surface of the knife member whereby theknife member 39 and stationary cutter have a cutting action similar to conventional scissors.

'As heretofore mentioned the rockarm 21, on the rock shaft l8,v is employed to effect the engagement of the movable clutch member 29 with the fixed clutch member 28. To carry out this practice, use is made of a bell crank 43 which is pivoted on a stud 44 fixed to the end plate The upper end of the bell crank, i. e. the.

portion above the pivot 44, extends through an openin provided in thetop plate 45. Bell crank 43 has a long arm 46 which depends downwardly fromthe pivot towards the drive shaft 16, and a short arm '41 which extends generally at a right angle to arm 46. The pivot stud 44 is so positioned, andthe bell crank 43 is so mounted thereon, that normally an edge of the long arm 46 is substantially parallel to the face of the hub 34 of the helical gear 32, as shown in Fig. 3. When the bell crank is rocked the long arm 46 is adapted to bear against the face of the hub 34 and continued movement of the bell crank movesthe helical gear 32 and the clutch member 29 towards the driving clutch member 28 and effects engagement of the clutch whereby to cause rotation of the helical gear 32 which drives the helical gear-33.

'Movement of the bell crank is effectedby the rock arm 2-1 whichis fixed to the shaft l8. The upper end of the rock arm 21 is adapted to contact a screw. M! which extends through the;

8: short arm 41 of the bell crank when the bell crankis in its normal or inoperative position. Screw I41 permits adjustment of the lever system for different thicknesses of material and is secured in adjusted position by a cooperating lock nut 148., vThus, it will be apparent that when the lever or rock arm 22 is elevated, due to a hump in the material passing between the idler and feed rolls, the rock arm 21 will also be elevated and will cause the bell crank 43 to swing in a'counter-clockwise direction, as viewed .in Fig. 3, whereby to engage the clutch. and cause rotation of the shaft I1 and consequent actuation of knife member 39.

It is necessary that rotation of the knife member be carried out in proper timed relation. When a thick portion of the material passes between the, feed and the idler rolls, and causes engagement of the clutch, a certain length of material must travel out to the knife members 39 and 49 before thecut takes place. Consequently, the knife member 39 must always begin the cutting cycle'from the same starting position sothat it meets the material at the proper distance behind or ahead of the thick portion. To carry out this proper timing it has been found desirable to disengage the clutch members 28 and 29 before the knife member 39 has completed a revolution and to continue the drive of the shafts I! and i9 and the knife member 33 by the utilization of the friction drive means heretofore mentioned. The movable clutch member 29 remains engaged with the fixed clutch member 28 until the out has been made, after which the movable member is disengaged and the friction drive means causes continued rotation of the knife member 39 until it reaches its starting position.

Disengagement of the clutch is effected by cam means which comprise a small shouldered rod forming a cam 43 having one end fixed to the face of the helical gear 32 next adjacent the clutch member 29-, and having the other end adapted to cooperate with a similar cam 49 fixed to the side plate H or to the end plate 15. Cams :9 and 49 are appropriately inclined with respect to each other, in the manner illustrated, whereby, when the movable cam member 48 comes in contactwith the fixed cam member 49, the

clutch member 29'is moved out of engagement with the clutch member 29. As previously pointed out, it is to be noted that the clutch is dis engaged before the cutter has completed one revolution.

Continuation of rotation of the knife member 39, after disengagement of clutch members 28 and 29', is effected through the previously referred to friction drive means. These means make use of a suitable radial hole in the hub [3! of the spur gear 3|. A leather plunger 50,

slidable in this hole, is constantly urged into engagement with the shaft I! by means of a spring 5| mounted within the hole and retained therein by a suitable plug. The friction drive means just described is sufficient to continue rotationof the shaft through the described gearing after the movable clutch member has been disengaged from the fixed clutch member. Consequently, the cutter means will still be driven unless rotation of the shaft I1 is arrested.

Means for stopping the cutter means comprises an arm 52 fixed to the hub 35 of the helical gear 33 so that it is rotatable with this gear. Arm 52, at the end thereof most distant from ,hub 35 of,the helical gear 33, has an ,angularfinger 53' which is adapted to rest on,

23cm; acriclutch member 29: is disengaged beforethe' knife y member has madeacomplete revolution and the cutter drive. means is stilli actuated by: means of then-friction." clutch mechanism heretofore: d'e scribed. However, when armiiZ has-madeone completerevolutions-the hub- 54 will be in its path and will engagethe-hubi This en'ga'gement. will: consequently break the: friction drive and stops operationof the: knife. member 39 at the desired: location. Thus, while spur gean3 i -is constantly rotated: it will be: inslipping engagement with sha'ilti. [1 durin the advancement of the; material between. cutting cyclesL- Ass-may be noted, a slight: taper is provided: on therhub upontwhich. the finger 53 0f stop arm; is adapted. to rest when? the clutchmeans is indisengaged: position. Thistaper is to: prevent the;.movable. clutch member irom walking towards; thezfixed: clutch member: and-causing the two clutch: members to' he accidentally engagedha Because of the low. inertia of; the intermittent drive system for the knife: member 39;:the .moLva able 'clutch member 29 and the knife: member 39iwill'. come to. rest before rotatable cam member 48-; associated with this clutch member, has cleared fixed: came member $32 whenlthe cam means operate: to disengage: the clutch means unless-provision is made tozovercome. 11111836011- ditio'nr lfsthemovable clutch-member 258 were allowed to remain in-- this unclearedilposition it could not be re-engaged'with clutch member 28 thashafti I11 and the force component set: up:

thereby tends to engage; the clutch means. the other"- liand; when the clutch means.aredi'si v engaged the:- just-mentioneda helical gear; 325 bet-- comes 1 a follower: due-1 tot the-friction: drive: one, When this takes place the iorcezlcom-h shaft 11. ponent-treversesitselflandi tends to push HIE-131037,- ableciutch member 29-:awayfromcam: 49'. where byqto; move: cam lfiflinto cleaned relation with camz' lfi by" allowing. the: clutch :member? 29: .tO'L

rotatei-reely until the stogarm, 52 comes inttrv action. c

For purposes. of; safety the side plate lil is extended beyond the-end plate 15 wherebya-suitr- On. i

alfrle-xshield? 51k in the:- formats; thimplate, may" lie-placed aroundiithe knif e member in the man ner; shown: in: the? drawings; 3

The completetoperation': of the? machine; is: be'-' lieved apparent from-itheforegoing". .Cbntinuousz material: is" led: from; a suitableisource GEL-supply; 3 carnied. on a rotatably. mounted: spnol or: the:

like, through-the: guide tube? 23 andibetween the:-

feed nolh :28 and; idler roll 21% which: causes-stile material to: be: constantly adyancedllengthwise ofi itself in the direction-i shown by: the arrows in Figsl When aathick portioneof; theamaieriak is engaged between-rthe: feed and idler rolls, the.

shaft is: is rocked, causing: theiroch;arm ll to" Q actuat the madame and engage the-movable clutchmember zlq witlr the: fixed clutch member 2'8; This-causes rotationof the shaft I9 and actuation-of the knife-member 39 During this time the material is advanced from the feed and to-t'he thick portion-- Shortly after a out has been- "made the cam means '48' and 49- '-come into action and d-is-' engage -the clutch means; In 'this regard itis tobe particularly noted that driving of the shaft d ll-throug-li the clutch means is only momentary and for' less than a complete: revolutions After the cutting operationg and until the starting position -for the cutting cycle has been reached, the knife member 3 -is driven through the trio-- tion drivemeans; When the starting position is reached the-stop arm' 52, which has been freed from contact with the-huh"- 34 of the helical gear 3 2,-"isagainbroug ht'into contact'with this hub: whereby to brea-k thdfribtion; drive for the cutter 4 means and tear-rest movementof the knife mem her 39 This-completes acutting'operat'ion which is continued atpredeterminedintervals as longas materia l' 'is 'fed to the machine.

driving the=-rotatablle= knife--member' 39* I through" bevelgears' which rotate the knife mem bei ahout axisperpedicular to' the-main drive shaft I l-3 I am enahl'ed to provide cutting mecha-'- nis-m which "is locatedat a readily accessible position and -which-is designed foi simplifie'd' a'di'ustment'.

In the construction shown, the knife-' member 39* needbe adjusted-inonly" one directionand for one-purpose only, namely, to cause' the" cut tooccur at the-leading-edgeorat' the trailing" edge of the thick port-ions of-the materialoperated upon. This adjustment is efiected whil'e the knife member 391s at' rest position between cyclesby looseningthe' means securing the knife member 39 to disc'38", moving the knife memberrelative-to' the 'disc 3% to-its'de'sired setting, and then tightening the means securing the knife memberto the disc; With the knife member 39 at restposition 'between cycles, adjustment position for cutting thematerial at the leading .:-.edge of thick portion is'towards' the end of .iaste'n cutter member win this desired position;

Only one other-operating adjustment, if required; need be made; This adjustment involvespositioning of-the screw MT to accommodate the macliin'e to the maiximmn thickness-of the mate ri'al 'b'ein g (mt;-

It will be appreciated that the adjustments just desarihed are so: simple that they can be carriedout byunskilled operators; Furthermore, I

the constmi'ction en'iployed places the loci for adjustments at"- easily accessible positions out'sid'e or tiie housing or the machine where likelihood of a'ccidental injury is, materially reduced.

"With the machine of my invention; I have successfully cut continuous material of: the chara cter described at the rate of' about eighty feet per minute, making cuts at intervals of from about sixteen-inchesup to fiftyeone inches. A higher'rate ofspeed is attainable if desired and alsocuts at considerably smaller. intervals are possible. The accuracy of theposition ofithe cuts is attainable by the use of fine teeth onithe clutch members 28 and 29, as previously described, and also by reason of the positive stop means employed for arresting the knife member at its position to' start a cutting cycle, as well as by providing rolls 2!! and 2 l with surfaces having a relativelyhigh coefficient of friction-such asknurled or corrugated metal surfaces or soft rubber surfaces whereby slippage between the continuous I material and the rolls is substantially ve da i 'Since certain changes maybe madein the abovearticle wvithoutdeparting from. the scope of the inventionherein involved, it is intended that all-matter contained; in the above description, or shown; in ythegaccompanying drawings, shall beinterpreted:as illustrative and not in a limiting1sense. 1 i

l What-I'claimis: U

1-. A machine for cutting-strips from continuousyaribbon; webbing or the like, comprising a driveshaftadapted totbeconstantly rotated, rotatable v feed :mearisdriven by said shaft and engagin said material therebetween for} advanc ing the material lengthwise ;of itself; rotatable cutter-means comprising arotatable knifefmem b er for severing isaid material advanced by said feed means, gear means for-connecting said drive shaftand said cutter means inpositive driving relation for; rotating said cutter means, mgvable clutch means rotatable with said shaft and positionable for-engaging said; drive shaft with said gear means in said positive driving relation a system of; levers actuated ;by said feed means in accordance with-the thickness of'the materialengaged by-saidfeed means for posi tioning saidp clutch means in operative engagement cam e means for disengaging'said clutch means from gsaid positive driving relation, friction drive means fori effecting; a slippage drive dcnnec'tion --betweensaid drive shaft and said cutter means through said gear means and for effecting intermittent rotation of said cutter means oni disengagementvofl said clutch means fromgsaid" positive driving relation by said cam means; and; stop means fnormally holding said friction drive means stationary; but releasable on said engagement of said, clutch mean's and returnable to holding position following ,disengage merit of said clutchjrneans bysaid ,cam means whereby to'arrest rotation of saidcutter means.

2'. A machine as set forth in claim' l. forcutting strips from continuous ribbon, Webbing or the like, wherein said stop means arrests ,rotation or' said cutter means after said knife member hasmade substantially a complete revolution.

*3.'A machine asset forth'in claim l for cut? ting strips from continuous ribbon, webbing -01 the'ilike, wherein saidfgear means comprises a plurality of ig'earsandsaid sto'p'means comprises an arm fixed at one end "for rotation with one ofzsaidxgears, and" having its otherend engage-- able in bearing contact with a projecting portion provided on a secondgearf r r 4. A machine as set forth in claim not cutting strips from continuous ribbon, webbing or the like, wherein said cutter means comprises a rotatable knife member mounted for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of advancement of the material to be cut. a

5. 'A machine as set forth in claim 1 for cutting strips from continuous ribbon, webbing or the like, wherein said cutter'means comprises a fixed cutter member over which the material to be cut is advanced,and a knife member mounted for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of advancement of said material; said cutter memberbeing located in the pathpf rotation of said knife member for rubbingcon' tact therewith on rotation of said knife member; 6. A machine of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a, clutch" memberfixed to said drive shaft and a clutch member loosely mounted on said drive shaft and slidable axially thereof, the adjacent faces of said clutch members being provided with teeth whichcooperati-vely engage each other upon relative movementiof said clutch members into con tact whereby said movable clutch member is rel-11 tated during said contacting engagement, l

7. A machine of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a clutch member fixed to said drive shaft and a clutch member loosely mounted on said driveshaft and slidable axially thereof, the adjacent faces of said clutch members being provided with teeth which cooperatively engage; each other upon relative movementof said clutch members into "contact whereby said movableclutch member'is rotated during said contacting engagement, andwherein said positive drive connection betweensaid-drive shaft and said cutter means is effected by a gear of said gear means which is loosely mounted on said drive shaft and fixed to said movable'clutch member for rotation and axial movement there-. with. 7*

8. A machine of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam means comprises a pair of cam membersjone of which is fixed to said machine and the second of which, when said clutch means is in operative engagement, is rotatable'with the clutch means into' contact with said firstfcam member to break said operative. engagement of:

said clutch means.

' 9. In ama'chine of the character set-forthin claim 1 and wherein said gear means comprise a pluralityof gears, clutch means comprisinga clutch member fixed to said drive shaftarida clutch member loosely mounted on said drive shaft and slidable axially thereof, the adjacent faces of said clutch members being provided with teeth whichcoope'ratively engage each other upon gear nearest said movable clutch; member, a sta tionary cam member, said stationary cam mem her being secured to said machine and located for contact with said first cam memberfwhen saidclutch members are engaged and are IQ? tated through less than one revolution, the contacting surfaces of said. cam members being" shaped to exert a, force on said movable clutch mmberwhich moves it out of engagementwith gala-cos Salifi fiXed cl-utch memberwherrsaid cam mom bers are brought, into contact. with each other...

10-.v Acutting. machine of the-character defined in claim 1; wherein said feedgmeans comprises a feed roll fixed onsald: drive shaft and anidler roll-:whiclr together engage the material to be out pressure contact and. advance the. material upon rotation of said. rolls, meansmounti'ng said roll. for. rotation. about. an axis substantially parallel. to said. drive shaft and. for movement towards. and away. from said, feed, 1:011; in. accordance with thethicknessoi the material engaged'between said rolls, gear means on saiddrive Shaft and associatediwith, said idler roll for connectingsaiddrive shaft in positived'rive red'atio'n with said idlerroll; said'mountingmeans for said idler roll controlling the actuationof said" lever system for engaging said. clutch means.

1 1... A'cutting machine. of. the character defined in claim lwherein said lever system comprises a rock shaft which is rocked in, accordance with the thickness of the material engaged for advancement byjsaid" feed means,,. a rock arm having'afree end and an end'fixed to saidzrockshaft,

and a bell; crank movable about a pivot spaced from said rock shaft, the'free end of said rock arm operatively contacting androtating said bell crank" about its pivot upon engagement of a thick porti'on of said material by said feed means and the other arm =of said'bell crank operatively contacting said clutch means and moving the clutch meansinto engaging position upon movement -of said rockarm-caused by engagement of s'aid 'thiclr portion of said material bysaid feed means, said b'elf crank being mounted so' -asto return to -inoperative position upon movement-of themacls shaft and said roclsarmresulting from athizr portion of sa-id material' beingiengaged by said ifeed means'.

- machine 7 for cutting. strips from. continuous r-ibbon; webbingor-the like, comprising a pair of rotatably mounted shafts arranged;v in parallel I relation t'oneaclr'other; one of' said shafts providing a drive shaft adapted to be'constantly rofiatedand; the second of said shafts beingidriv'en drive; shaft, rotatable-feed .means drivenvbyzsaid drive shaft andzengagmg said materialthereoetween: for advancing the material lengthwise of itself; 1 arotatably mounted: cutter shaft operatively driven from said secondrshaft, as knife member fixed toasaid; cuttershaft for severmgisaid? material! advanced by .said feed means; gear. means onrsaid parallel: shafts con.- necting said drive; shaft. and E said second: shaft in positive; driving relation: for rotating said cutter shaftand the knife member, fixedtheretmclutch: mountedv on said" drive shaft, said. clutch means-being rotatable-- with said. drive'sh-aft and positionable for engagingthe gearmeans onrsaid: drive; shaft and-esaid'second shaftain. said driving relation,-, asystemof; levers actuated by said feed means inaccordan'ce with the thickness 5 of I the; material-engaged. by-said. feed means for; pcsitioning. said i clutch means: in operative engagesment, cam: means for disengag n said clutch from said positive driving'rel-ation, friction; drive means for: effecting a slippage drive connection between; said drive shaft and saidsecond shaft 7 through said gear meansand'for efiectingintermittent rotation. of said knife member on disengagement of saidclutchmeans from said positivegdriving: relation by saldrcam means," and stop means normall holdingsaid frictiondrive meansstationarybut releasable on said engagement of saidclntch means and. returnable toholding po-- sition: following disengagement. of. said clutch meansby said cam means. whereby to. arrest rotation of saidccutter shaft and the-knife. member. thereon, 7

13. A- machine as defined inclaimdz for. cutting strips from-continuous ribbon, webbing. or the like, ,whereinsaidgear means comprise a spur gear; and. a helical gear. mounted on said drive shaft-andaspurgear and ahelical gear mounted onsaid secondshaft, said spur gears being inoperative engagement withcachv other and. said helical. gearsheing in. operative engagement with each other.

1 14. A machine. as ,d'efinediin claim ,12 for cutting strips from continuous ribbon, webbing or the like, wherein said gear means comprise a spur gear and. a helical gear mounted on said drive shaft and'a spur gear and a helicalgear mounted on' said second shaft; said spur gears being inoperative engagement with each other and said helical "gears being in operative engagement with each other, and wherein the spur gear and the helical gear associated withsaid'drive shaft are respectively fixedly and? loosely mounted thereon.

1'5. A machine as defined 'in' claim 12' for cutting strips from continuous'ribb'on, webbing or the like, wherein said clutch means' comprises a clutch membermounted' on and fixed-to said drive shaft for rotation therewith and a-"clut'ch mem ber loosely mounted on and slidable axially of said drive shaft for movement into engagement with the first-mentioned 'clutchmember whereby to'eff'ect' rotation of'said second clutch member, and wherein aspur gear'onthe drive shaft issecured to saidishaftfor rotation withsaid fixed clutch member and a helical gear is loosely mountedon saiddrive shaft and fixed to said movable'clutch member for rotation and axial movement therewith.

161A machine as defined inclaim 12 for cutting strips from continuous ribbon, webbing or the like,wherein said gear means comprise a spur gear and a helical gear=mounted on said drive shaft and a'spur' gear'and a helical gear mounted on said second shaft, said spur gears-being in operative engagementwith each other and said helical gears being inoperative engagement with each other, wherein the spurgear and the helical gear associated with said drive shaft are, respectively, fixedly andloosely 'mounted thereon,- and wherein the helical'gearon the drive shaft is loosely mounted thereon and'axially slidable thereof while thehel'ical gear on-the second shaft is mounted on the second shaft for rotation therewith and thespur gear. on the drive shaft is; fixed thereto; for rotation therewith while the spurgear on the secondshaft is loosely mounted thereon and frictionally engaged therewith in said slippage drive connection.

1'7. A machine of the character set forth in.

claim 12 whereinv saidgear means comprise a helical. gearv loosely mounted. on said. drive shaft andaxially. slidable thereof but rotatable therewith upon. positioning. of saidv clutch means for effecting said'driving relation between said shafts, a helical. gear engaged with said first-mentioned helical. gear and fixedly mounted on said second shaft, and a stop arm fixed. at one, end to said second helical gear forv rotation therewith, the other end of saidarmbeing engageable with: a projecting portion. on said first helical-gear when said clutch meansis in-d-isengaged position and being-freeof said projection portion for rotation with said second helical gear-When: said clutch means i in. engage-d position.

13 a 18. A machine of the character set forth in claim 12 having clutch means comprising a clutch member fixedly mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith and a second clutch member loosely mounted on said drive shaft and axially slidable thereof for engagement with said first clutch member, a gear loose on said drive shaft and slidable axially thereof, said gear being fixed to said second clutch member for axial movement therewith, a gear mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said gears being constantly engaged with each other, and cam means for disengaging said clutch members comprising a cam member fixed to and rotatable with said first-mentioned gear and a cam member fixed to said machine, said first-mentioned cam member being brought into contact with said second cam member on rotation of said first gear and moving said first gear and said slidable clutch member away from the fixed clutch member.

19. A machine of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein a bevel gear fixed on said second shaft and a second bevel gear fixed on said cutter shaft are in operative engagement with each other for operatively connecting said cutter shaft through said gear means to said drive shaft.

20. A cutting machine as defined in claim 12 having a rock shaft rotatably mounted in substantially parallel relation to said drive shaft and said second shaft and being rockable in accordance with the thickness of the material engaged for advancement by said feed means, a bell crank pivoted for movement into operative contact with said clutch means for moving said clutch means into engaging position, and a rock arm fixed to and rocked by said rock shaft and operatively contacting said bell crank for effecting movement of the bell crank to move said clutch means.

RICHARD L. SEIDMAN.

No references cited, 

